PS3 TV, new PSP feature top Sony's Leipzig event

PlayStation 3 maker announces its titles and new tech, from digital video recording service for PS3 and PSP to new installments of Buzz! and SingStar.

LEIPZIG, Germany--Sony Computer Entertainment Europe told the world back at this year's E3 that it was saving up all its big announcements for Leipzig, where it promised a whole host of surprises, including something special for European PlayStation Portable owners.

Tonight, the company did not disappoint at its event in and around its booth in Hall 2 at the Leipziger Messe. Close to 700 people crowded around the stage to watch SCEE CEO David Reeves deliver his hour-long presentation. Unfortunately overlooking the portable chairs included in the long, heavy bags they were given at the event's entrance, some attendees sat on chairs at the front of the venue, while others spilled onto beanbags at the side. Still others sat on a row of (nonworking) toilets installed in part of the 'This Is Living' booth.

The lights dimmed, and after a countdown from 10 and a short video, David Reeves took to the stage, where he introduced the event to the crowd. He said, "GC is even more important and influential than before this year, as E3 is moving to be more regional." The executive then showed off his (fairly decent) German by repeating his introduction in that language, before apologising to the crowd that because it would take too long to speak in both languages, he would continue only in English.

Reeves then said that since it was "tradition" to start Sony events with a torrent of statistics and sales figures, that is what he would be doing. He lambasted criticism of sales of the PS3, by stating that the console had "actually enjoyed a faster curve than the PS2 did in the first few months." He called the launch "stunning" and revealed that 13 million units had been sold across Europe. First-party titles Resistance: Fall of Man and MotorStorm to date in Europe have sold 535,000 and 469,000 copies, respectively.

The PS3 would be getting 65 more first-party titles in Europe by Christmas, Reeves said, and it currently has a 2.6-to-1 tie ratio, which means 2.6 games have been sold per console. He then talked about the PS2, which is still going strong, and now has an installed base in PAL regions of 44 million. He also pointed out that it was tripling sales of the Xbox 360.

The PlayStation Portable now has an 8.6 million installed base, with a 4-to-1 tie ratio, and saw a 40 percent uplift in sales in the 10 weeks following the price drop.

Next up were some figures for the PlayStation Network, which has had 7.6 million downloads so far spread among its 645,000 registered users. The most popular title is Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, which has been downloaded 103,000 times, followed by flOw with 47,000 downloads.

Sales figures thus dispensed with, Reeves announced "a service that will revolutionize how the PS3 is portrayed as an entertainment hub." The service is Play TV, and gamers can use it to turn their PS3s into video recorders.

Play TV will launch in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France in 2008, and in Scandinavia shortly thereafter.

Reeves said there are 275 titles, including third-party releases, that are scheduled for release in the run-up to Christmas. He dated Heavenly Sword in the UK to September 19, and Ratchet and Clank Future: Tools of Destruction to autumn. Reeves also talked about a new Buzz! quiz game, Buzz! Quiz TV, which will be coming out on the PS3 next year.

Next he talked about the PlayStation Network, and said that there would be a "strong line-up" between now and Christmas, including Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, which will be coming to SCEE territories before the end of the year.

The new, improved, slimmer PlayStation Portable was also dated for the region, set to debut September 5. In Europe, the handheld will be coming out in white, silver, and piano black, along with two special bundled theme packs: a Simpsons theme in yellow, and a Spider-Man theme with the front in red and the back in black.

But Reeves wasn't done yet; he introduced Go!Messenger and Go!Explore, follow-ups in a series that began with the Go!Cam back in May. Go!Messenger will allow for text, video, and voice-over IP messaging between PSPs connected to the Internet. Go!Explore adds GPS-aided navigation for driving to the handheld. However, to use the feature, PSP owners must buy a universal media disc (UMD) with maps of the region they're driving in.

The final announcement on the list was that of the FIFA Interactive World Cup 2008, a joint initiative between Sony and Electronic Arts to "find the world's best virtual athlete." Registrations are now open at www.fifa.com/fiwc.

Reeves finished by handing the stage over to a Sony Germany executive, who welcomed the popular German band Die Toten Hosen (translation: "The Dead Trousers") on stage to sing a song from the new SingStar game, Die Toten Hosen Sing Party.

296 Comments

  • Sigil-otaku

    Posted Aug 26, 2007 10:17 am PT

    My mistake, anyway does anyone remember how many Sony said was coming to NA?

  • Sigil-otaku

    Posted Aug 25, 2007 3:49 am PT

    I wonder if he said that they'd got 65 first party titles so he could avoid releasing the amount of games in total coming to europe in comparison to America and Japan. Sounds like Sony.

  • supersonicGO

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 4:43 pm PT

    metal gear plz come soon

  • clawboy

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 3:56 pm PT

    Where are all of the Ps3 games?

  • packernation31

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 10:57 am PT

    Need some good games for the PS3 still...

  • Javier

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 10:00 am PT

    Ok, so Im one of the millions that bought the PS3....and stillwaiting for those fabled good games to come out.

  • zero-G1080

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 7:35 am PT

    i dont have a problem with the ps3 games, im not buying 1 yet cause i played the two other ninja gaidens, tekken 6 cant be too different to tekken1-5, im not a MGS fan and heavanly sword/god of war 3 are good but dont justify £450 purchase. As 4 the psp MORE GAMES!!!!
    P.S. 13 million !!! as of when?!!

  • The_Exculpator

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 7:13 am PT

    Wow,
    this board is filled with sony haters... pathetic
    GO SONY!!! *looks at the -234 rating on the comment*
    oh shi...

  • Chaos_0_DNA

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 6:37 am PT

    Simpsons Official PSP made me thinking of trading my black PSP

  • StarDust666

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 4:33 am PT

    13 million ps3's sold across Europe.... blah, blah.... here we go again....

  • haynsey123

    Posted Aug 24, 2007 3:49 am PT

    play tv sounds ace having one box that does everything is sweet

  • thomasperry

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:05 pm PT

    Those are some nice announcements. I agree the Simpons PSP would have been very cool to be released in North America. Instead we get Darth Vader... which is cool but... meh.

  • ninjasam

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 9:14 pm PT

    You can't blame ps3 for going hard with new features in Europe, they are doing better in Europe. It is cool how different regions are getting different custom psp's (us star wars and japan final fantasy) but simpsons psp and spiderman psp both sound cooler than star wars i don't know about you guys.
    They haven't announced to bring those dvr capabilities to America. which is weird, and whats ps3 doing about DDR?

  • zak234

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 8:03 pm PT

    Germans don't get MGS4 brutal trailer and Demos in their PSN.

  • squirtle4

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 6:56 pm PT

    I don't think the huge price tag is worth it, i hope they keep a steady realease of Ps2 games working.

  • DodgeDuty

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 5:54 pm PT

    When will all this happen in the US. PSP GPS, can't they get anything game related. GPS won 't help sales.

  • sacatash

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 4:43 pm PT

    I love my PS2 and would like to buy the PS3, 60 GB version to replace it and as an upgrade...but why would I invest on a console worth a half a thousand when it is run by executives in straight jackets?? Don't these jokers know that they are giving their third party developers second thoughts if they want their titles only exclusive to PS3? This is a business after all and game companies want to support a console that has the game system that has the biggest installed base(its pretty obvious). I would not be surprised if Square Enix will jump ship if the installed base of PS3 is under 10 million worldwide by next summer while the Wii(which is projected to hit the 20 million plus by next 1st quarter) and Xbox360 will continue to outsell it by more than a 2 to 1 ratio. If that happens, then it will be the end of the PS3(the modern day N64).

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 4:37 pm PT

    PS3 is #1!!!!!!!!

  • sacatash

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 4:08 pm PT

    13 million units sold in Europe?!!! That cant be right...

  • dmdavenport

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 3:29 pm PT

    OK, Ok, sorry! Now leave me alone while I go play Bioshock.

  • Boycey2005

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 2:23 pm PT

    http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2007/08/23/david-reeves-says-no-more-price-cuts-more-bundles/

    Look at the last paragraph. It explains why no games were announced at Leipzig. And it is David Reeves that explains it. Did everyone forget their announcements at E3 or the plenty games being released in a week to a month?? Warhawk, Heavenly Sword, Ratchet and Clank etc. We have games coming out month by month practically until next year. Soon though im sure youll have something else to complain about without being content with what sony is giving.

  • EcoJak

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 2:14 pm PT

    Sweet...but wanted more info on games

  • jogunther

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 1:27 pm PT

    Its alittle ridiculous to scold a system becuse its younger. Eveyrone can keep trashing the game but your not playing them so whats the problemo. Anyways this news had nothing to do with games(FIFA) although no one seems to realize that.

  • phaserde

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 1:12 pm PT

    KOBE Sucks!!! not kidding! He fell off

  • XlpranksterlX

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:55 pm PT

    LOL! We can't make games to justify our crap console, so lets just tack on something gamers don't want! lol. Seriously, I find it funny, but hey, if you're one of the few million chumps that have bought a PS3 already, this is good news.

  • spawn2005

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:48 pm PT

    I care because then I have to listen to PS3 fanboys who say the PS3 is so great because it has a DVR coming out for it.. And I'm not a fan of fighting games.. so Tekken is at the bottom of my list.. Just not a fan I guess.. I think I stopped being a fighting fan after MK2 for the SNES... that was the last fighting game I owned..

  • BILLNYE6983

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:41 pm PT

    How does the PS3 have no good games? Currently there is Resistance, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, Tekken 5: DR, and Virtual Fighter 5 (which WAS exclusive) and coming very soon you have Lair, Heavenly Sword, Ratchet and Clank, and Warhawk. Also Tekken 6 is coming out soon, and if your gonna try and say Tekken isn't a good series or something... well your opinions don't matter at all in that case (one of, if not THE best fighting games of all time, hell I'd say Tekken 3 is in the top 5 or 10 for all games). These are just badass extra things, you people act like Sony is telling people not to make games or something... it's good if they give you extra, stop whining, especially if you don't have a PS3, what the hell do you care?

  • sigma8

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:30 pm PT

    Yay for the Leipzig GC. I was sad I couldn't go. Would have been fun. Tickets to Europe are so expensive in the summer, they should hold it in May or October.

  • Thorpe89 Site moderator

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:29 pm PT

    All these new features (like Play!TV) sound awesome. Can't wait.

  • jknight5422

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:26 pm PT

    What's so great about those games for the PS3? They're almost a year old & nothing new. Does Europe really prefer this over what the US has? I'm flabbergasted.

  • Crystall3d

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 12:16 pm PT

    when will the mod-chip come out? maybe the games are waiting for it tooo ?

  • Neo1O1

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 11:49 am PT

    This is all for the greater good of gaming.

  • raichu79

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 11:41 am PT

    "I don't care if the PS3 does backflips, pops corn and feeds the dog - all at the same time. I won't buy one until it has something worth playing on it." ________________________________________________Ahmen Brother!

  • woofie13

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 11:36 am PT

    "backflips, pops corn and feeds the dog - all at the same time"
    I would buy another one if it did that!

  • dmdavenport

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 11:34 am PT

    I don't care if the PS3 does backflips, pops corn and feeds the dog - all at the same time. I won't buy one until it has something worth playing on it.

  • kobebryantyanic

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 11:15 am PT

    PS3 SUCKS!!! Just kidding.

  • kyleali11

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 11:06 am PT

    not 13 but 1.3

  • blackhawk21012

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 11:06 am PT

    this is just a rip off of what xbox announced for its tv 8 months ago for the 360, leave it to sony to steal ideas

    here is a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0GijX9SSjU

  • AngelCage

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:59 am PT

    Xaovagon

    ...Sony is just trying to cover for all of its crappy games like Lair , warhawk, heavenly sword, Resistance fall of man, genji, ninja gaiden, and my favorite GUNDAM CROSSFIRE!!! and Riiiiiiidddddddddggggggggeeeeeeee Raaaaaacccceeeeeeerrr!!!!
    .-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

    Huh, what a bind fanboy. Lair, Warkhawk and heavenly aren't in market yet, so how you know that them are crappy?. Resistance is a great game, not like Gears, but is great anyway. Genji is crap, but i can remember of another crappy samurai themed game in your beloved 360. Sigma is a superb game for anyone that NEVER played the xbox originals. Crossfire is crap, i agree with you, but Ridge is a fun and OK racer... oh, the Rrrriiiiiiidge Raaaaaaceeeer thing stop being funny a couple months ago.

    Put the facts in the table, all the systems: wii, 360 and ps3 had HORRENDOUS games, but sony, ms and nintendo had nothing to do with the third party ones.

  • clawboy

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:56 am PT

    I can't wait to get my hands on the red PSP.

  • darkride66

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:53 am PT

    "Why would developers switch from the PS2 to the PS3 platform?"
    That's easy. There's a market for it and there's money to be made. Perhaps they view the PS2 market as over-saturated. There's a lot of competition out there for PS2 games, but not many PS3 games at the moment. Maybe they just enjoy the challenge. You could ask, why don't all movie studios make huge commercial comic book movies? That's were the money is. There are plenty of reasons for studios to switch from the PS2 to the PS3.

  • KickinIt_ftw

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:47 am PT

    Really now? Thirteen million, you say? That would be quite a magic trick, when the total sales (globally) on the PS3 were under 3 million at the start of the summer. You'd think that we would have heard about the most remarkable reversal of fortune - during the course of one fiscal quarter - in the history of the gaming industry before now. But, no... Nothing.

    Color me skeptical.

    By the way, did anyone else get the feeling that David Reeves was holding his pinky to his mouth like Dr. Evil, when making that claim? "Thirteen MILLION units."

  • WestCoastRida

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:40 am PT

    SCWEET!!! A red AND black PSP... SICK!!! And duh, the PS2 has been selling more than 360, its been out for like 6 years!!!

  • ChickenHounk911

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:28 am PT

    I own all 3 consoles, but I do agree with Hippo, when DID Sony stop making Excellent games (see PS2 Hits) and start making other random, non-video game stuff....a Navigation System of the PSP? Geez! C'mon guys, we'll just wait for the PS4, even the execs are saying that Sony let the horse out of the gate too early....

  • trininuyawka

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:27 am PT

    If history is any indication, it takes a good year before developers get a grasp of developng for a new console and it's hardware. The PS3 lacking an abundance of great games within it's first year is no different then how things went for the PS2, the XBOX and the XBOX360 in their respective first years. And low and behold, there are a couple of great games coming out this fall for the PS3. People need to take a chill pill with the "WHERE ARE THE GAMES????" rants.

  • esmarsu

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:24 am PT

    Those are great news. My only comment would be: Long life to Games, no matter where we're playing them.

  • Hippopotymus

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:16 am PT

    Hi, i was just wondering when Sony stopped making great games and started to make kind of random other stuff instead? This is the reason I bought an Xbox 360 instead of a PS3, I own a PS2 as well which was Sony at its best in my opinion.

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:09 am PT

    Why would developers switch from the PS2 to the PS3 platform.

    The golden key to success for a console is the titles and library it has...the more the dev's focus on the PS2 the slower the PS3 titles will expand.

  • trininuyawka

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:02 am PT

    I bet 13 million is supposed to be 1.3 million. Amazing the power of a little decimal point.

  • Moncada5

    Posted Aug 23, 2007 10:00 am PT

    13 million units sold across Europe? Yeah ok. I can understand maby a little off, but 13 million?

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